By place Greece •
June 9 – The
democracy of
Athens is overthrown by the
oligarchic extremists,
Antiphon,
Theramenes,
Peisander and
Phrynichus in an effort by the oligarchists to exert more control over the conduct of
the war with
Sparta and its allies. A "
Council of Four Hundred" is set up. The total defeat of the
Athenian expedition to
Sicily and the consequent revolts of many of the subject-allies has weakened Athenian finances severely; the acknowledged purpose of the revolutionary movement is to revise the constitution to better run Athens' finances. However, its rule is high-handed and the Council of Four Hundred is only able to maintain itself for four months. • When a mutiny breaks out amongst the troops who are fortifying
Piraeus (the harbour for Athens), the Council sends
Theramenes to quell it. Instead, he puts himself at the head of the mutineers. After Phrynichus, the leader of the extremists, is assassinated, an ensuing meeting of the Athenian Assembly deposes the Council and restores the traditional constitution, but restricts some of the privileges of citizenship to a body called
the Five Thousand. The Assembly resumes its old form in being a committee of all citizens. • The Athenian navy under
Thrasybulus recalls
Alcibiades from
Sardis. Alcibiades' election is confirmed by the Athenians at the request of Theramenes. A Spartan fleet in the
Hellespont at
Cynossema is then defeated by an Athenian fleet commanded by Thrasybulus and Alcibiades. • Antiphon defends himself in a speech
Thucydides describes as the greatest ever made by a man on trial for his life. Nevertheless, Antiphon is unable to persuade his accusers and he is executed for
treason.
By topic Literature •
Euripides' play
Iphigenia in Tauris is performed. •
Aristophanes' plays
Lysistrata and
Women Celebrating the Thesmophoria are performed. == Births ==